Expandable container



Aug. 29, 1961 E. T. CHASOLEN EXPANDABLE CONTAINER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledAug. 31, 1959 FIG. I

INVENTOR. Edward 7. Chasofen romvsv Aug. 29, 1961 E. T. CHASOLENEXPANDABLE CONTAINER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 31, 1959 INVENTOR.Edward 7. Chase/en ATTORNEY Aug. 29, 1961 E. T. CHASOLEN BLE CONTAINER 3Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 31, 1959 IN VEN TOR.

M ro/ un United States Fatent O i 2,998,181 EXPANDAB'IJE CONTAINEREdward T. Chasolen, 29 Washington Place, Ridgewood, NJ.

Filed Aug. 31, 1959, Ser. No. 837,122 6 Claims. (Cl. 229-52) Myinvention relates to containers and is directed particularly to animproved household container for shopping and the like purposes whichcan readily be expanded for carrying additional articles, as may berequired, for example, as shopping progresses.

The principal object of my invention is to provide an expandablecontainer of the above nature comprising a plurality of container bodymembers, each having a pair of side handles, the side handles of eachbody member being so formed and placed that when the body members arearranged in vertically-stacked relation, the side handles can beinterlocked by interlooping to secure the body members in their stackedor unitized relation, thus providing a unitary expanded container.

Another object of my invention is to provide an expandable container ofthe character described which comprises a plurality of body members inthe form of an open box, each of which is an individual container, and aplurality of body members in the form of a sleeve, open at the bottomfor increasing the depth of a box member, whereby a composite containerhaving individual partitioned portions combined with expanded boxportions as may be required can be assembled by selectively stacking orunitizing the box and sleeve members.

Another object of my invention is to provide an expandable container ofthe character described, the basic capacity of which will be multipliedby the number of unitized box or sleeve members.

Still another object of my invention is to provide an expandablecontainer of the above nature, the elements of which can either befolded flat or compactly nested for convenient storage when not in useor for transportation.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide an expandable containerof the above nature which can be inexpensively made of cardboard,synthetic plastic, metal, paper, fiberboard, reinforced netting or evenwood, or any other adaptable material, depending upon the intendedpurpose.

Other objects, features and advantages of my invention will be apparentfrom the following description when read with reference to theaccompanying drawings. In the drawings, wherein like reference numeralsdenote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 illustrates a blank for forming a basic container unit accordingto the invention,

FIG. 2 illustrates in perspective the blank of FIG. 1 set up to form abasic container, and the handles applied thereto,

FIG. 3 illustrates, in perspective, how the basic container of FIG. 2can be compactly folded for storage or transportation,

FIG. 4 illustrates a blank for forming a basic sleeve insert accordingto the invention,

FIG. 5 illustrates in perspective the blank of FIG. 4 set up to form thebasic sleeve insert, and the handles applied thereto,

FIG. 6 illustrates, in perspective, how the basic container of FIG. 5can be compactly folded for storage or transportation,

FIG. 7 illustrates, in perspective, how a basic container unit and asleeve insert interfit and interlock in stacked or unitized relation toprovide an expanded container of double capacity,

FIG. 8 illustrates, in side elevation, how a sleeve insert can beinterlocked between two basic container Patented Aug. 29, 1961 2. unitsto provide a partitioned or compartmented expanded container of triplecapacity, the top of one of said basic container units having a cover,

FIG. 9 is a vertical cross-sectional view, taken along the line 9-9 ofFIG. 8 in the direction of the arrows, on an enlarged scale,illustrating the interlocking of the handles,

FIG. 10 illustrates, in perspective, a second form of the inventionwherein the basic container unit is integrally moulded of syntheticplastic material,

FIG. 11 illustrates, in perspective, the second form of the inventionwherein the sleeve insert is integrally moulded of synthetic plasticmaterial,

FIG. 12 illustrates how the tapering sides of the second form of basiccontainer unit shown in FIG. 10 allow compact nesting for storage ortransportation purposes, and

FIG. 13 illustrates how the tapering sides of the sec ond form of sleeveinsert shown in FIG. 11 allow compact nesting for storage ortransportation purposes.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, wherein like reference numeralsdenote corresponding parts throughout the several views, 10 in FIG. 1designates, generally, a blank, which may be of cardboard, for example,from which a container unit is formed. The blank 10 is rectangular inshape and scored along a horizontal dotted line 11 and vertical dottedlines 12, and cut along vertical lines 13 continuous with the scorelines 12 to provide side panels 14, end panels 15 and bottom panels 16and 17 when the blank 10 is folded and set up to provide a containerunit 18 as illustrated in FIG. 2. The folded-in bottom panels 16 and 17can be stapled or glued or otherwise secured together to provide a firmbottom wall. The abutting vertical ends of the terminal side panel 14and end panel 15 can be secured together by a glued strip 9(illustrated) or any other convenient flexible connecting means.

The container unit 18 is provided with a pair of upwardly-extending sidehandles 19 which may, as illustrated in FIG. 2, take the form of asemi-rigid loop which extends down along one side of panel 14, under thebottom of the container unit, and up along the opposite side panel 14for maximum supporting strength. The handles 19 preferably are formedwith horizontal outer end portions 20 and slightly inwardly convergingside portions 21. For the purpose hereinafter more fully apparent, thedistance between the upper edge of a side panel 14 and the inner edge ofhorizontal outer end portion 20 of its handle 19 is greater than theheight of said side panel. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the endpanels 15 are obliquely outwardly scored from the center point of theirtop edges, as indicated by dotted lines 22, to allow in ward folding ofsaid end panels for compactly folding a set-up container unit 18, asillustrated in FIG. 3, for storage or transportation.

Reference numeral 23 in FIG. 4 designates, generally, a blank, alsopreferably of cardboard or a similar foldable material, from which asleeve insert 24 (FIG. 5) can be formed, the same being generallyrectangular in shape and provided with vertical score lines 24a definingside wall panels 25 and end wall panels 26. Marginal portions of thelower ends of the end wall panels 26 are cut out, as indicated at 27, toprovide marginal tab portions 28 at the lower ends of the side wallpanels 25, for thedescribed above. The height ofthe side wall panels 25.

of the sleeve insert unit 24 is preferably slightly less than twice theheight ofits companion container unit 18, while the height of thehandles 19 will be the same as those of said container unit.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 the end wall panels 26 of the blank 23or sleeve insert 24 are centrally vertically scored, as indicated at 29,to allow outward folding of said end wall panels for compactly folding aset-up sleeve insert unit 24, as illustrated in FIG. 6, for storage ortransportation. 7

FIG. 7 illustrates, by way of example, how a sleeve insert unit 24 canbe combined or unitized with a basic container unit 18 to provide asingle expanded container of twice the carrying capacity of thecontainer unit 18. This is accomplished merely by inserting the sleeveinsert 24 within the container unit 18 and interlinking the adjacenthandles 19 by slipping the upper handles through the lower handles. Thetab portions 28 of the side wall panels 25, which are beveled at theirends as indicated at 28a, facilitate insertion of the sleeve insert 24within the container unit 18. Since, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 6,respectively, the score lines 22 of the container unit 18 bend inwardlyand the score lines 29 of the sleeve insert member 24 bend outwardly,the end walls of said sleeve insert member will fit tightly against theend walls of said container unit.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate how two or more container units 18 having topportions 14a can be combined or unitized with an intermediate sleeveinsert member 24 to provide an expanded container of triple the capacityof a single container unit 18. Since a container unit 18 is used as thetop expansion member, its bottom wall formed by its bottom panels 16, 17provides a partition separating the upper and lower holding space of theunitized container, which is an advantage when it is desired to separatesome articles, which may be more fragile, for example, from the weightof the articles above. It will be understood, of course, that merely asuccession of sleeve insert members 24 could be used above a single container unit 18 to provide a unitized expanded container having a singledeep holding compartment.

FIG. illustrates a modificationof the invention wherein a container unit30, instead of being fabricated of bent cardboard or the like ashereinabove described, is integrally moulded with handles 31 of asynthetic plastic material, such as polyethelene. In this form of theinvention, the side walls 32 and the ends walls 33 are slightly inwardlysloped from top to bottom to allow nesting as illustrated in FIG. 12 forconvenient storage and shipping.

FIG. 11 similarly illustrates in the second form of my invention -howthe sleeve insert members 34 can be integrally moulded with handles 31and with tapering side walls 35 and end Walls 36 to allow nesting asillustrated in FIG. 13 for convenient storage and shipping.

One important feature of my improved expandable container resides in itstime and money saving features when used in supermarket shopping. Forexample, under the present check out system the procedure is as follows:

lstShopper places her selected purchases in a shopping cart. (Firsthandling of each item.)

2nd-Shopper, after completion of her shopping, unloads her purchasesonto the check-out counter. (Second handling of each item.)

3rdThe Checker Then RingsU'p each item on the cash register. (Thirdhandling of each item.)

4thThe Packer then packs. the order for take-out. (Fourth handling ofeach item.)

Summary: During the present cheek-out system, each item is handled noless than four difierent times by at least two different persons in aslow, time-consuming procedure that often becomes bottle-necked duringrush periods. Considerable damage is often done to fragile merchandiseby over-handling.

With the use of my improved expandable container, hereinbelow referredto as a Boxket, the procedure is asafollowsz lst.. Shopper places herselected: purchases in aBoxket 4 in a shopping cart, with the pricefacing up and exposed for easy reading at check-out. (First handling ofeach item.)

2nd-Shopper, after completion of her shopping, unloads her purchasesonto the check-out counter by Lifting Each Loaded Boxket by its Handles.This simplifies and speeds up the unloading of the cart and eliminatesthe Second item by item handling by the shopper required in the 2nd stepin the present system.

3rd-The Checker then rings up each item by simply reading the exposedprices on the merchandise packed in the Boxket. This is done with aminimum of handling and eliminates the Third handling as required in thepresent system (step 3).

4th-The Packer will no longer be needed. The purchases were packed inthe Boxket by the Shopper at the time of selection and are ready to becarried out as soon as the last item has been checked, totaled and paidfor. Little further packing will be necessary.

Advantages of improved check-out system over present system (1) 75% lessitem by item handling (2nd, 3rd and 4th steps above).

(2) Simplified unloading of cart (2nd step above), a great labor saverfor the shopper.

4thThe Packer will no longer be needed. The purchases will be wellgrouped by the shopper at time of selection, and will remain that waywith price exposed for rapid check-out.

(4) Elimination of Packer and Packing will reduce check-out time by 50%or more.

(5) Ease of Carry-Out. Boxkets are readily expandable and easilyunitized. Carry-out will be by the handles, like a shopping bag, andcarrying of paper bags in ones arms against neat clothes will no longerbe necessary.

(6) Stability of the Boxket eliminates the possibilityof its becomingupset in the car while in transit, or at home after unloading from thecar.

(7) Reduced handling and more efficient packing will result in improvedquality of merchandise for the shopper.

(8) By eliminating about 75% of the handling and packing as outlinedabove, the efiiciency of the Boxket Check-Out Line Will Be 75 to greaterthan the. present check-out line.

(9) This Is Possible With a Minimum of Expense or Alteration of thePresent Check-Out Set-Up and Will Re-' suit in Greater Volume CapacityWith the Same or Smaller Personnel Complement.

While I have shown and described particular embodiments of my invention,it will occur to those skilled in the art that various changes andmodifications may be made without departing from the invention. Itherefore aim in the appended claims to cover all such changes andmodifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. An expandable container assembly comprising a plurality of box-likemembers each having a bottom, end walls and side walls, and an invertedU-shaped handle of semi-rigid material extending upwardly from each of apair of opposed walls, the handles of any one of said boxlike membersbeing sufliciently flexible to be passed in interlinking relationthrough the corresponding handles of any other one of said box-likemembers when said other box-like member is positioned above said onebox-like member, the height of said handles being approximately equal tothe height of said end and side walls, whereby the bottoms of superposedbox-like members serve as closures for their immediately underlyingbox-like members in said container assembly.

2. An assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein apair of downwardlyconverging side portions,

3. An assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein the side and end wallsare downwardly convergent.

4. An expandable container assembly comprising a plurality of units,certain units comprising box-like members each having a bottom, endwalls and side walls, and an inverted U-shaped handle of semi-rigidmaterial extending upwardly from each of a pair of opposed walls, andcertain units being sleeves having side walls and end Walls, and aninverted U-shaped handle of semi-rigid material extending upwardly fromeach of a pair of opposed walls, the handles of any one of said unitsbeing sufiiciently flexible to be passed in interlocking relationthrough the corresponding handles of any other unit, the height of saidhandles being approximately equal to the height of said side and endwalls, whereby said handles when interlocked will limit relativetelescopic movements of the nested units upwardly beyond the rim of theimmediately underlying units.

5. An assembly in accordance with claim 4 wherein the walls of all ofsaid units converge downwardly.

6. An assembly in accordance with claim 4 wherein each of said handlescomprises a horizontal portion and a pair of downwardly converging sideportions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,942,771 Phillips Jan. 9, 1934 1,957,099 Deubener May 1, 1934 2,307,659Avery Ian. 5, 1943 2,866,575 Lattuca Dec. 30, 1958

